As Robinson Crusoe first sets sail, he realizes that he made the wrong choice to go to sea even though nothing wrong has happened. This realization comes because his imagination is no longer preoccupied with the possibility of sailing away, but it is now filled with the fear his father has been trying to convey, which in turn leads to terrifying thoughts of how his voyage could go awry. First, his imagination clears up, as Crusoe no longer has to imagine what it is like to sail once he boards the ship and witnesses the wind blow and the waves come in. Now that his imagination clears, the part of himself that knows he should stay loyal to his father “came now fresh into [his] Mind” as the prospect of sailing no longer occupies his imagination. The combination of sailing for the first time with the knowledge that he disobeyed his moral and biblical obligations to his family causes him to sympathize with his father’s fear, and his imagination takes him to terrifying places as a result.

The Oxford English dictionary gives an obsolete definition of Judgement that was used at the time of “Robinson Crusoe’s” writing: “a divine pronouncement; an eternal law or ordinance.” By describing himself as being “overtaken by the Judgement of Heaven,” Robinson Crusoe illustrates that he truly valued his biblical duty to his family, even before he left. Even though he decided to go abroad despite his father’s wishes, his use of biblical language, in addition to his flashbacks of his father’s crying, indicates that he really did struggle with the decision to go away from his family. However, now that he has gone, he is consumed with fear because his desire to go has been fulfilled while his desire to stay with his family remains, and now all he can think on is how he ignored the part of his conscience that wanted to stay. "judgement | judgment, n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/101892. Accessed 11 February 2020.

In “On the Supernatural in Poetry,” Ann Radcliffe defines terror by distinguishing it from horror: “Terror and Horror are so far opposite that the first expands the soul, and awakens the faculties to a high degree of life; the other contracts, freezes and nearly annihilates them .... And where lies the difference between horror and terror, but in the uncertainty and obscurity that accompany the first, respecting the dreading evil” (Radcliffe 2002). According to Radcliffe, terror “awakens the faculties” by creating a sense of uncertainty, allowing the imagination to take over the soul when in a state of fear of the unknown. Even though nothing bad happened yet to Robinson Crusoe, the uncertainty of the voyage ahead in addition to his father’s warnings “terrify’d” him, filling his mind with images of catastrophe.

Radcliffe, Ann. “On the Supernatural in Poetry.” The School of English and American Studies, July 23rd, 2002. http://seas3.elte.hu/coursematerial/RuttkayVeronika/radcliffe_sup.pdf. Accessed February 11th, 2020.

Robinson Crusoe is trying to explain his decision to disobey his father and leave home. As Crusoe reflects on this conversation, where his father begs him to stay home, he is aware that the correct choice was to obey his father, because if he had, he would not be stranded on an island. However, it is difficult for Crusoe to sympathize with his former self. Crusoe claims that he “was sincerely affected” and “resolv'd not to think of going abroad any more,” which is clearly not true as he immediately contradicts himself with his declaration to go away anyway. David Hume would have argued that Crusoe’s decision to go abroad came from an inability to sympathize his father because his imagination was set on the adventure he would have sailing abroad. Hume argues that “‘tis certain we may feel sickness and pain from the mere force of imagination,” but because the young Crusoe “would be satisfied with nothing but going to Sea,” his imaginative capacity was too occupied to sympathize with his father's fear. But now that he has experienced sailing away, his imagination is no longer occupied with the thought of leaving, allowing him to agree much more easily with his father as he reflects on himself in this passage.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines alas as “used to express grief, pity, regret, disappointment, or concern.” As Crusoe sits on the island reflecting on his decision to leave home, he expresses a deep sense of regret. In addition to speaking so highly of his father’s words, his use of the word “alas” indicates that he wishes he had not followed his ambition to go abroad. By expressing his regret, Robinson Crusoe demonstrates a moment of emotional growth, where he can look back on his former self and realize that his choices then were immature. He believes now that his duty to his family outweighs his personal aspirations when they are in conflict, and given the chance, he will never make that mistake again. "alas, int. and n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/4560. Accessed 11 February 2020.

The Oxford English dictionary defines “prophetic” as “relating to, befitting, or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy, having the character or function of a prophet.” Crusoe’s use of Prophetic highlights his inner conflict wherein he understands that he has a religious duty to honor his father yet desires to go away. By describing his father’s discourse as prophetic, Crusoe likens his father to a prophet and demonstrates that he does recognize his responsibility to obey his father. However, his decision to go away illustrates that his desire to travel meant more to him than his obligation to his father. "prophetic, adj." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/152696. Accessed 11 February 2020.

From the OED: "Pertaining to outward form or ceremony; merely formal; Of things, esp. dress: Conformable to fashion; in accordance with prevailing usage; of the kind in vogue among persons of the upper class. Of immaterial things: Approved by custom, generally accepted, current (now in depreciatory sense)." "fashionable, adj. and n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/68392. Accessed 7 February 2020.